Asking the voters in the upcoming South Carolina primary to "Vote Hermain Cain" - with a picture of Stephen Colbert's grinning face - is obviously a massive mickey take, designed to poke fun at the whole political system, attack ads an' all.

After all, gaffe-prone pizza magnate Herman Cain left the presidential race months ago after allegations of affairs forced his hand - and what's more, Colbert is a liberal comedian pretending to be a staunchly right-wing political commentator, so the whole affair is just a big ol' joke.

Still, it does make you wonder whether Britain could so something similar next time we go to the polls - Charlie Brooker springs to mind. Quick, to Twitter!